Cedars, April 27, 2006

Thursday, April 27, 2006 C EDARS | 3 WORLD & CAMPUS NEWS Hybrids Cruise into Popularity Kermit the Frog is cruising down Sesame Street in a brand new SUV. The green muppet became the star of the Ford Escape hybrid ad campaign that debuted in the second quarter of this year’s Super Bowl. Although the advertisement does not provide many details about the hybrid, Kermit admits that “it is not so hard being green,” re- ferring to the newly developed SUV. There is much more to hybrid vehi- cles than their contribution to a cleaner atmosphere, though that continues to be a significant attraction. Any vehicle is a hybrid if it is pow- ered by two or more sources. Hybrid cars run on a combination of electricity and gasoline. They have been designed to use the gasoline more efficiently, allowing the battery to power the car when it is slowing down or stopped. Hybrid manufacturers boast that their cars are lighter and more aerodynamic, and that they can often recover braking energy to refuel their batteries. Almost every major car company has developed a hybrid. Honda and Toyota lead the way in sales, with the Toyota Prius enjoying number one hy- brid-selling status. Hybrids have be- come more popular over the past sever- al years, with consumer interest rising to 11 percent. According to a national poll conducted by Leo J. Shapiro and Associates in January 2006, interest has increased five percent since 2003. Being relatively new to the car mar- ket, hybrids range in price from $19 thousand to around $30 thousand, but most consumers feel they can justify the higher price, given the generous gas mileage they receive. U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency test results have shown that the Prius receives 51 miles per gallon on the highway and 60 miles per gallon in the city. Rising gas prices have made the hybrid’s excellent mileage a very attractive quality for consumers. Owning a hybrid also has finan- cial benefits for taxpayers. In 2006, all Americans who own hybrid cars will receive a $500 income tax deduction. Because of the new energy bill recently signed by President Bush, incentives to own and operate environmentally- friendly vehicles will likely increase in the future. The development of the hybrid car has raised hopes of lowering the nega- tive impact of motorists on the environ- ment. According to the Union of Con- cerned Scientists, the extent to which an individual negatively impacts the environment is most significantly de- termined by that individual’s choice of car. The Prius produces noticeably smaller amounts of harmful emissions than a comparable gasoline-powered car. The 2005 Toyota Camry produces 11,100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, while the Prius produces only 4,800 pounds. The campaign to encourage the sale of hybrids calls considerable attention to their environmental and economic benefits. Well-known supporters of hybrid vehicles include Billy Joel and Jack Black; however, Kermit the Frog continues to be the most conspicuous celebrity advertising the hybrid as a healthy alternative for environmental- ly-conscious motorists. · Lyndie Grigorenko · Environmental Beat Verizon “Provides” Problems In an era when communication is priceless, some cell phone customers are struggling for reception in the middle of the cornfields. VerizonWireless customers in partic- ular have had tremendous difficulty get- ting signals in the Cedarville area. Senior AndrewSkaggs said that he switched cell phone service providers during the mid- dle of his first semester freshman year. “It was a dead phone,” said Skaggs, who now subscribes to Cingular Wireless. TabithaPfoutz,anotherseniorstudent, offered more details. “In older buildings I don’t get a signal,” she said, “and when in newer buildings generally I have some type of signal.” Pfoutz explained that her signal gets stronger when she is outside, but tends to weaken as she nears down- town Cedarville. A look at the Verizon Wireless cov- erage map for southwestern Ohio places Cedarville well within the coverage of its digital cell phone service. The cover- age map at Verizon’s main website does come with a disclaimer, however: “This map is not a guarantee of coverage and may contain areas with no service.” The disclaimer goes on to note that “wireless service is subject to limitations, particu- larly near boundaries and in remote areas. Customer equipment, cell site availabil- ity, topography, and other environmental considerations also affect service, which may vary significantly within buildings.” A Verizon Customer Care represen- tative said that some of this spotty recep- tion may be due to “calling plans, the type of phones they have or new cell tow- ers in the area.” Phone types can make a big difference in how much of the signal is received. “Trimode phones,” those re- ceptive to two types of digital signals and an analog signal, “have been the most ef- fective.” According to the representative, even having the phone’s antenna down can severely inhibit signal strength. For solutions to the signal problems, the Customer Care representative had several helpful suggestions. To reca- librate a phone to local coverage, press *228, press Send, then select option two. This should reset the phone to the area. If this solution does not help, customers can report their problems by calling 1-800- 922-0204, or they can visit the support center at Verizon’s website, www.veri- zonwireless.com . Reporting coverage problems will as- sist Verizon Wireless in strengthening its signal and providing better service to all of its customers. · Ryan Simmons · Contributing Writer Credit Cards: Asset or Aggravation? Debt is a liability for anyone who has a credit card, but student credit card debt poses a more serious problem when combined with often overwhelming student loan debt. Most students have a credit card. In fact, ac- cording to Nellie Mae, a corporation that provides student loans, 78 percent of students carry at least one card. Of that majority, 22 percent have a debt of $3,000 or higher. The prob- lem usually arises because students are unaware of how much they are spend- ing, or because they don’t fully understand interest rates. Students often fail to recognize how easily small credit card charges, such as coffee or snacks, can add up. And they forget that in- terest will be added to the price if they do not pay off the balance immediately. Theproblemcompounds when students graduate with credit card debt. Ac- cording to Fred E. Merrit, Financial Aid Director, the average Cedarville student graduates with $17,000 in student loans. This already sizable debt is even more difficult to pay off when combined with significantly higher interest credit cards. While they present a financial risk if used im- properly, credit cards can be a valuable asset. “Hav- ing a credit card helps you establish a credit history,” said junior engineering ma- jor Jonathan Evans. “Show- ing that you are responsible with credit is important and if you have no credit his- tory you’ll need someone to co-sign your car or house loan application.” Evans spent a sum- mer working for MBNA, a company that issues credit cards. “The nice thing about a credit card is that it allows you to pay for some- thing now with future in- come,” he said. Credit cards are cer- tainly useful, but when misused they can be devas- tating. One sophomore stu- dent said her parents spent 20 years paying off the debt they acquired in college. “They told me never to get a credit card,” she said. However, there are ways to keep from falling into debt. One is to simply pay for everything by cash or with a debit card. These methods will prevent the student from significantly over-spending. Another op- tion is to pay off credit card balances regularly, or to set a personal “debt cap” and maintain a careful record of purchases. When used with discre- tion, a credit card can be a financial benefit, rather than a danger. · Melanie Frageorgia · Contributing Writer C ONTINUED ON FROM POLICY F RONT P AGE campus had only one open house every year, and the re- cent increase in frequency has met with mixed reactions. According to Ruby, the ul- timate goal of the open houses is “to provide students with a low-cost alternative for well- supervised social activities that help build community.” In the future, Ruby hopes to incorporate programs and events that center around dorm open houses in order to encourage students to partici- pate. In a Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory taken in 2002, Cedarville students rated their college experience in areas such as health ser- vices and discipline. Over the past three years, Cedarville has made significant gains in student satisfaction, cur- rently surpassing the CCCU averages in categories such as residence hall regulations and freedom of expression. The administration takes seriously the feedback of students, as evidenced by the recent SGA Casual Friday survey: an overwhelming 86 percent of those surveyed voted in favor of casual dress on Fridays. Ruby emphasized the im- portance of student opinions, observing that “rules work best when there’s a high level of support, and students feel like their input matters.” the people theymeet, sharing and build- ing one another up. Joel Tomkinson, who coordinates many of the touring teams’ activities, shared his perspec- tive: “While music and drama are the vehicles through which we are able to be at a church, one of our primary fo- cuses is on serving and ministering to the churches and individual families. We impress from a distance, but we really only can impact up close. That’s our ministry heartbeat—to serve and encourage.” Members of these teams agree that to be a part of these unique ministries can have a huge impact on their lives. “Summer tour is amazing and life- changing for so many reasons,” said Jessica Waggoner, a HeartSong vocal- ist. “You get so close to the people on your team and learn a ton about your- self. You learn about what it means to really love people, and how crucial it is that you depend on the Lord for your joy and strength because on your own it won’t be there.” Gabriel Coyle, another member of HeartSong, said, “It’s gonna be a blast meeting with church family all across the country. I pray that I can be a ves- sel […] God uses to pour out His mercy and grace to those I meet.” Abbie McGaha, a Lifeline Player, said, “Lifeline has given me a com- pletely different perspective on minis- try. The impact that the team has stems from about 10 percent drama and 90 percent from our contact with believers in host homes and churches. I never re- alized what an impression a caring con- versation or a listening ear can leave. I’m excited to see the way that the Lord can use a gift like drama to encourage so many fellow believers!” “Being on a touring team is a great chance to get out of your comfort zone and serve God in a different way,” said Matt Beres, a member of the Master’s Puppets. “Although it is a nine week commitment and the time away from home and family could be hard, the benefits definitely outweigh the down- falls.” As students leave Cedarville for summer break, they should remember that it is not a “break” from ministry. Instead, they should have an attitude similar to those of Justin Spann, a mem- ber of HeartSong who said, “I feel like Paul when I’m on summer tour, travel- ing the world, bringing the message of hope in Christ to all who will hear.” C ONTINUED ON FROM TOURING TEAMS F RONT P AGE C ONTINUED ON FROM C HERNOBYL F RONT P AGE fire that burnt for nine days. Such conditions caused sig- nificantly increased radioac- tivity across the entire Euro- pean continent. The long term effects of the accident are just now being experienced. On top of the original deaths due to explosion, fire, and most of all radiation poisoning, increased numbers of can- cer sufferers have added to the number of Chernobyl victims. Over 4,000 cases of such cancer have been reported to date, mostly by those who were children or adolescents during the time of the accident. Although total numbers of meltdown related deaths vary greatly amongst various interna- tional organizations, some speculate that the total deaths caused by the Cher- nobyl accident may reach well over 200,000.